Tag Archives: Shannon airport

Shannon Airport has achieved growth again in 2015, with its passenger numbers for last year showing a 5% increase on 2014. This is the third successive year of passenger number increases at the airport. 2015 passenger numbers grew to 1,714,872 – the first year since 2010 that the airport has exceeded the 1.7m figure. The 2015 year figure is up over 22% on the total passenger numbers since the airport became independent in 2013.  Excluding transit passenger numbers, the growth in terminal passengers since separation is 25%. The biggest growth area over the three year period since independence for Shannon has been on its European services, which have more than doubled (108%) since the airport was made independent in 2013. The biggest-spending inbound tourism market, the US, has, meanwhile, enjoyed a 12% increase since separation. Commenting on the results, Shannon Group plc Chairman Rose Hynes said, “After the high of 2014 when we achieved 17% growth thanks to a range …

CHIEF Executive of Clare County Council Tom Coughlan is set to come under pressure for answers about the non-renewal of Neil Pakey’s contract at Shannon Group and the non-progression of the Lynx Cargo facility at the airport. Mr Coughlan is a member of the board of Shannon Group and at next Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, the six Shannon councillors will look for standing orders to be suspended for a discussion of the two issues. Just before Christmas it was announced that Mr Pakey’s contract would not be extended beyond next June. Also, in a letter to Clare County Council last month, Shannon Group confirmed that the Lynx Cargo project, which it was once claimed could deliver a huge amount of local jobs, is not going to proceed. On Wednesday, Independent Councillor PJ Ryan, who is chair of the Shannon Municipal District, said there is a need for information on why Mr Pakey is not being retained. “What we …

Neil Pakey is leaving Shannon Group next summer, after its board opted not to renew his contract and Shannon Chamber has expressed disappointment at the Scot’s departure. Chamber president Kevin Thompstone said, “Neil has not just seen the connection between the airport and the region but made and reinforced that connection. He has contributed and delivered many innovative undertakings, which have benefited the airport, the region at large and the entire western seaboard.” Mr Thompstone, who served as chief executive of Shannon Development for eight years, added, “He has a track record of delivering for Shannon and the region. Shannon’s loss of this experience will be somewhere else’s gain.” December was a month of ups and downs for Mr Pakey, as days before it was announced that he would not have his contract renewed at Shannon, he received a Limerick person of the month award. Councillor PJ Ryan, cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District, said he too was very surprised …

AROUND 57,000 passengers are set to arrive into the country through Shannon for Christmas, sparking countless emotional scenes and moments at the airport. On Tuesday afternoon, Paddy Fitzgerald from Corofin was waiting for his daughter Catherine and her husband to arrive from London. He said his daughter had been born in England and after coming back to live in Ireland, had returned to London again. “Catherine was born there, Richard is an Englishman. Catherine would have been home and then went back in the early 1980s. They’re staying for a week and going back for New Year’s.” Frances and Seamus Cahill from Galway were waiting for their daughter, Rowena, son-in-law and one-year-old grand-daughter, Celia.This will be their first time to have a grandchild in the house for Christmas. “We’re looking forward to it. We’ve pushed the boat out and we’re hoping everything will be good,” said Seamus. There was much excitement when Rowena arrived with her daughter Celia walking beside …

In the second cash seizure at Shannon airport within a week and the seventh so far this year, Revenue officers seized €9,000 in cash from a Polish woman at Shannon Airport on Monday. The woman, in her twenties, was stopped and questioned by Revenue officers prior to boarding a flight to Wroclaw in Poland. Officers seized the cash in accordance with proceeds of crime legislation and were granted a three month detention order today (Tuesday) by Judge Patrick Durcan at Kilrush District Court to facilitate further investigations.

In an intelligence-led operation, Revenue officers seized €8,700 from a Polish man at Shannon Airport on Monday. The seizure was made when the man, in his thirties, was stopped and questioned by Revenue officers prior to boarding a flight to Krakow. Officers seized the cash in accordance with proceeds of crime legislation and were granted a three month detention order today (Tuesday) by Judge Patrick Durcan at Ennis District Court to facilitate further investigations.

Aer Lingus Regional is to restore flights from Shannon to Edinburgh from March next year, move viewed as a major boost for the airport and region. The new service, which will be operated for Aer Lingus Regional by Stobart Air, will see six flights weekly operate year-round from March 28 between Shannon and the Scottish capital, which is the second most popular tourism city in the UK after London. It will generate an extra 35,000 in seat capacity for Shannon in 2016, rising to 45,000 per annum from 2017. Shannon Group CEO Neil Pakey said, “We are seeking to add to our schedule on an ongoing basis. Edinburgh has been one of the services at the top of our list and Aer Lingus Regional’s announcement that it is to restore the service next year is really good news for Shannon and our passengers. “Edinburgh has proven a hugely popular service here in the past and in terms of feedback from the public, …

A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition capturing some of the golden moments and world famous faces that visited Shannon Airport has just opened. Closing the curtain on a year of celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the first commercial transatlantic flight into Shannon, or any land-based Irish airport, some 64 images, dating from the 1950s up to now, have been placed in a permanent exhibition on the walls of the airport’s transit lounge. The exhibition, which was officially launched by Shannon Group chairman Rose Hynes, reflects the international standing of Shannon as a global aviation crossroads as it includes some of the world’s best known personalities of politics, stage, screen and sport. Famous faces and events captured in the exhibition include every US president from presidents John F Kennedy to Barack Obama; other global political and religious leaders such as Nelson Mandela, President Mikhail Gorbachev, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Cuban President Fidel Castrol, Pope John Paul II and the Dali Lama. Shannon Group CEO, …